SALE OF BUTTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1942, Page 2

SALE OF BUTTER

PROCEEDINGS BY PRICE TRIBUNAL. PONGAROA STOREKEEPER FINED. The Price Tribunal proceeded against Percy Richard Kent, storekeeper, of Pongaroa, in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court today, on a breach of Price Order No. 46 fixing the retail price of creamery butter. Kent was charged with selling butter on October 28, at a price not in conformity with the price order. • The Crown Prosecutor, Mr .R. RBurridge, appeared for the Price Tribunal and Mr J. Macfarlane Laing appeared for the defendant. Mr Burridge said that defendant had sold butter at Is 8d per lb. The maximum price fixed was Is 6d, plus an allowance for freight charges incurred, but as there was no freight—the butter was delivered free —the maximum price to be charged was Is 6d. Mr Laing said the breach was an entirely innocent one on the part of the defendant. The only notification given of the price order was through the Press. Defendant did not know of the price order until it was brought under his notice by the Department. Counsel stated that the information had been made to the Price Tribunal by a person who had a grudge against Kent and had since left the district, owing Kent a considerable number of pounds. Counsel pointed out that the price fixation order made no difference between the cash and booked prices charged for butter. The Magistrate, Mr H. P. Lawry, said it was difficult for storekeepers and others to keep abreast of the various amendments and considered that someone should keep them supplied with copies of price orders and regulations. Mr Burridge pointed out that a week ago regulations were gazetted requiring retailers to display. in their shops the Price Tribunal’s prices or to keep available to their customers a schedule of prices fixed by the Price Tribunal. At the time of the offence, said the Magistrate, the present defendant had no opportunity of having this information except by placing a general order for the supply of these price orders. On account of the extenuating circumstances, he would impose a fine of £1 with costs.